Tag Archives: HB 1282

By a vote of 17 to 7, the House Appropriations Committee has given a favorable vote to a bill allowing the Maryland Stadium Authority to study the feasibility and economic cost of building a soccer stadium in Prince George’s County for D.C. United. But first committee members further amended the bill to reconfirm–really, truly, they mean it– that nothing in the measure would obligate the state to spend a dime more than the study nor commit the state to ultimately building the stadium.

It is not yet clear if the full House intends to attempt to take the bill up twice before the end of the day, as would be necessary for the body to give approval to the bill before tonight’s crossover deadline. After tonight, bills that pass one chamber are not guaranteed a hearing before the other chamber. D.C. United President Kevin Payne said he believes the study, which Stadium Authority officials estimated would cost $150,000 to $200,000, is a good idea. “We hope everyone will agree it makes sense to spend a little time to find out if it makes sense. That’s all we ask.”

This is great news, but it is only the first step. There’s a lot of work to go still. The next thing we need to focus on is call Prince George’s County Council. Vamos United!

Big news. As you know, there is a hearing next Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day, on HB 1282, the legislation that would enable United to build their new soccer stadium in Maryland. We need to show our support of this bill, so we are hosting a huge rally in the backyard of our state lawmakers. We want them to hear our collective voice and we want you to join us. The rally will be at noon at Annapolis City Dock, which is the harbor front park at the end of the boardwalk in downtown, Annapolis. See map below.